Monthly news from

Together We Rise On the Rise

News in Foster Care

Lawsuit in Massachusetts

Children's Rights, a national

watchdog group, is suing Mas-

sachusetts, alleging that state

officials shuffle kids from

placement to placement, the

children are subjected to high

rates of abuse, and that Mass.

Department of Children and

Families social workers are

given unmanageable case

loads. The class action law suit

will be heard in Federal Court

in Springfield in January.

Click here for more info

New PSAs Aim to Promote Adoption from

Foster Care

To promote the adoption of

teenagers from foster care, the

Administration for Children and

Families (ACF), AdoptUSKids,

and the Ad Council are unveil-

ing a new series of multimedia

public service advertisements

(PSAs). These new PSAs are

part of the Adoption from Fos-

ter Care campaign running

since 2004. Click here for more info

New I’m Aging Out Web Launch Set to Impress We are excited and proud to announce

the launching of our new website program

and campaign I’m Aging Out. In the works

for months, this website is finally ready to

be shared and utilized by foster kids and

parents across the U.S. to connect to re-

sources on what to do before, during, and

after the aging out process in the foster

care system.

“Each year about 20,000

foster care teens 18 years old

are discharged to live on their

own. Those are thousands of

potential leaders, workers, and

human beings who have no-

where to go and no one to turn

to help them figure out what’s

next,” TWR founder Danny

Mendoza said.

Because two out of three foster care kids

will die, go homeless, or go to jail within

two years of turning 18 and aging out of

the foster care system, the I’m Aging Out

website is designed specifically to help

these kids find the resources and infor-

mation they need not only to survive life

after foster care, but thrive after leaving

the system.

“I’m Aging Out is a way of finally bringing

organizations and information that will help

foster care kids together in one place,”

Mendoza explained. The

website features numerous

links and resources for infor-

mation, agencies, and or-

ganizations for all 50 states.

Said Mendoza, “This isn’t

about Together We Rise be-

ing recognized by putting our name on a

website – it’s about connecting and provid-

ing foster care children with the resources

they need so they can have as good a

chance as anyone of surviving and suc-

ceeding the real world – and that’s a cause

worth fighting for.”

Visit the I’m Aging Out website at:

www.imagingout.org

this issue

I’m Aging Out Web Launch P.1

New Partnership with Dave Thomas P.2

Skateboard Program Success P.3

IS SUE

November

2012

01

Build a resume Write a cover letter

Find transitional housing Apply for college

Prepare for the SAT/ACT Find info on legal rights

Obtain medical records Get health insurance

Apply for government benefits And more…

The website provides state-by-state infor-

mation on how to:

2 out of 3 foster care

kids will die, go home-

less, or go to jail within

2 years of aging out of

the foster care system.

1

Together We Rise is proud

to announce its new partner-

ship with the Dave Thomas

Foundation for Adoption

based in Columbus, Ohio.

The foundation is planning to

provide office space for a

Columbus satellite branch of

TWR and will be involved in

funding and collaborative

projects as well.

“We are really excited to

be collaborating with Togeth-

er We Rise. The foster care

and adoption systems need

organizations like Together

We Rise now more than ev-

er,” President and CEO, Rita

Soronen, said. “The young

and fresh perspective TWR

brings to the table is im-

portant and valuable to all of

us here at the foundation.”

As of now, TWR plans to

bring in five workers—an

intern

VOTE FOR

US!

During the last week of No-

vember, TWR has the excit-

ing opportunity to compete for

a $1 million grant through

Chase Bank’s Community

Giving Awards Program.

Their American Giving

Awards competition puts 25

charities across the nation

head-to-head via Facebook

to get the most votes possible

and win an amazing grant!

The top five charities with the

most votes will receive a

grant ranging from $125,000

to the ultimate $1 million

award.

Voting will be from Tues.

Nov. 27 to Dec. 4. You can

only vote through Facebook

and get one vote. We have

so many projects and pro-

grams that would benefit from

this amazing grant, so please

vote and have your friends,

family, acquaintances—

anyone you can think of—

vote!

Make sure to tune in for the

award show that will be

broadcast on NBC on Satur-

day, December 8 at 8/7c

Click here to vote for TWR!

intern manager and four

interns – to the Dave Thom-

as Foundation office to

work on coordinating fund-

raising and

awareness

events in Colum-

bus, as well as

maintaining com-

munication with

TWR’s other in-

terns who are

located across the nation.

“Right now we have over

50 interns working for us on

research, fundraising, and

social media across the

country. We utilize video

conferences and email pri-

marily to coordinate and

communicate with these

interns to spread the word

of TWR on a national

scale,” TWR founder Danny

Mendoza said.

Managing these interns is

no small task. With six intern

groups receiving different as-

signments and meeting with

an intern man-

ager each

week, Together

We Rise is

planning to uti-

lize the office

space to con-

duct more for-

mal video conference calls

and create a solid presence

for Together We Rise in Co-

lumbus.

“The opportunities this

gives both of our organiza-

tions is exciting and inspir-

ing,” Soronen said. “I can’t

wait to see what great things

and progress will come from

this partnership.”

TWR to Partner with Dave Thomas Foundation

“The foster care and

adoption systems

need organizations

like Together We Rise

now more than ever.”

2

Skateboards

INTERN OF THE MONTH

On Friday, November 9th,

Together We Rise was able to

bring skateboards to 100 foster

care children in the Chino, Cali-

fornia area through its new pro-

gram, Skateboarding Cares.

The program is designed so

volunteers help foster kids build

their own skateboard and then

teach them how to ride it. The

skateboards were donated by

Active Ride Shop, a clothing

store that originated in the Chi-

no area.

“I like this program because

it really gives these kids a

sense of accomplishment

and is a small way we can

give back to the kids in our

own backyard,” Active Ride

Shop manager, Jeff Ryder,

said. Active Ride Shop has

agreed to donate skate-

boards three times a year

and will increase the number

donated as the program ex-

pands.

“It’s so awesome to see

how much these kids light up

because of something so simple

as spending time with them and

giving them a small gift. It’s real-

ly incredible,” worker and volun-

teer Matt Miller said.

Though the program has

started out in Chino, California,

TWR plans to take the Skate-

boarding Cares program on a

nationwide tour during the sum-

mer of 2013. Said Miller, “We

just want to spread this program

to as many kids as possible.”

Foster Care Agency Spotlight: Hillside Family Agencies

Hillside Family of Agencies in Rochester, New

York has just been named the Alliance Agency of

the Year from Alliance for Children and Families,

a national membership associa-

tion dedicated to achieving a vi-

sion of a healthy society and

strong communities for children,

adults and families.

Hillside was chosen to receive

the award because of its demonstrated excel-

lence in innovative programming; impact through

advocacy efforts on local, state or national levels;

management and leadership; and board participa-

tion and support.

Serving Rochester for over 175 years, Hillside

provides over 120 services to children

and families in over 40 different loca-

tions. Among these services are pro-

grams for health, emergency shelters

and counseling services for children in

the foster care system.

TWR wants to congratulate Hillside Family Agen-

cy on this great award and thank you for all the ef-

fort you put into helping kids in foster care!

Skating to Success

Mary Waters

Mary Waters is a senior at

St. Michael’s College in Col-

chester, Vermont. Majoring

in Communications and Phi-

losophy, Mary has been with

Together We Rise for over a

year.

Starting off first as a social

media intern and then

spending summer of 2012 at

the TWR headquarters in

California, Mary now serves

as an intern manager from

her college. Communicating

and coordinating with over

50 of TWR’s interns nation-

wide, Mary gladly gives her

time and energies to help our

internship program succeed.

“This cause is one that is

close to my heart. What

these kids need cannot be

accomplished overnight, so it

is critical for everyone to do

what they can to help these

kids who have no one to fight

for them,” Waters said.

Mary plans to move to

California after graduation so

she can work full-time at

TWR’s headquarters.

Mary said, “I’m just happy

to know that I can make at

least a small difference in the

lives of these kids.”

3

Upcoming Events

“Fore Kids” Golf Tournament Where: Los Serranos Country Club When: Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 from 9:30am-4:00pm What: 18 holes of golf, driving range time, golf cart and

awards dinner. Entry fee is $130 and 100% of proceeds will go toward taking 100 foster youth on a Holiday Shopping Spree. Go to www.togetherwerise.org/Golf for info and reg- istration.

Fashion and Art Show Where: Diamond Bar Center When: Friday, December 14, 2012 from 7:00pm-10:00pm What: Enjoy a fashion and art show sponsored by and many more! Cover charge is $15/ea. and includes

fashion show, art gallery, raffle and live music. All proceeds go toward our Skateboarding Cares program! Go to www.togetherwerise.org/ARTS for info.

Pick-a-Purse Event Where: Los Serranos County Club When: Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 from 11:00am-2:00pm What: Pick a designer purse filled with various goodies along with

the opportunity to purchase additional merchandise from all

of our vendors including,

and and more! Entry fee is $75 and includes your

pick of purse and gourmet lunch catered by Olive Garden.

All proceeds go to our scholarship program. Go to

www.togetherwerise.org/Purse for info and registration.

On the Rise Issue 01 Nov. 2012

Office: 909.628.3100

Email: info@twr08.org

Web: www.TogetherWeRise.org

Facebook.com/togetherwerise

18,000+ friends on Facebook connected with TWR

@TOGETHERWERISE

100,000+ followers on Twitter connected with TWR

TOGETHERWERISE

7,000+ friends on Instagram connected with TWR

Get Connected

Together We Rise

4110 Edison Ave, Suite 203

Chino, CA 91710 4